Chapter 18.03
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE

Sections:

18.03.010    Amendments to the International Building Code.

18.03.010 Amendments to the International Building Code.

Chapter 1, Administration of the International Building Code, is hereby adopted and incorporated into the city of Shelton construction administrative code and the same shall apply to all the aforementioned codes and documents and shall include the following amendments:

CHAPTER 1

ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 101

GENERAL

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Building Code of the City of Shelton, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”

101.2 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.

Exception: Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane in height, shall comply with this code or the International Residential Code.

101.3 Intent. The purpose of this code is to establish the minimum requirements to provide reasonable level of safety, public health and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire, explosion and other hazards, and to provide a reasonable level of safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

101.4 Referenced codes. The codes listed in this section and elsewhere in this code shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference.

101.4.1 Gas. The provisions of the currently adopted International Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) and 2008 Liquid Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58) shall apply to the installation of all materials and equipment utilizing liquid propane gas; the provisions of the currently adopted International Fuel Gas Code shall apply to the installation of all materials and equipment utilizing natural gas except those regulated by the International Residential Code (IRC).

101.4.2 Mechanical. The provisions of the currently adopted International Mechanical Code shall apply to the installation, alterations, repairs and replacement of mechanical systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and/or appurtenances, including ventilating, heating, cooling, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, incinerators and other energy-related systems.

101.4.3 Plumbing. The provisions of the currently adopted Uniform Plumbing Code shall apply to the installation, alteration, repair and replacement of plumbing systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances, and where connected to a water or sewage system and all aspects of a medical gas system.

101.4.4 Fire prevention. The provisions of the currently adopted International Fire Code shall apply to matters affecting or relating to structures, processes and premises from the hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices; from conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises; and from the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression and alarm systems or fire hazards in the structure or on the premises from occupancy or operation.

101.4.5 Energy. The provisions of the currently adopted Washington State Energy Code (WAC 51-11C, WAC 51-11R) shall apply to all matters governing the design and construction of buildings for energy efficiency.

101.4.6 Existing Buildings. The provisions of the currently adopted International Existing Building Code shall apply to matters governing the repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to and relocation of existing buildings.

101.4.7 Ventilation and indoor air quality. Applicable provisions of the currently adopted International Residential Code, currently adopted International Mechanical Code and currently adopted International Building Code shall apply to all matters governing the design and construction of buildings for ventilation and indoor air quality.

101.4.8 Electrical. The provisions of the currently adopted National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), as amended and adopted by the State of Washington shall apply to the installation of electrical systems, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances thereto.

SECTION 109

FEES

109.1 Payment of fees. Permit fees are collected prior to or at the time of the issuance of the permit; a permit shall not be valid until the fees prescribed by resolution of the city council of the City of Shelton have been paid, nor shall an amendment to a permit be released until the additional fee, if any, has been paid. For those building services to be billed on an hourly basis, billings will be based on the hourly rates established by resolution of the city council of the City of Shelton. The city may use the services of an outside professional consultant for plan review services; all invoices associated with the services of an outside professional consultant, including any administrative services charge as prescribed by resolution of the City Council of the City of Shelton, shall be paid prior to or at the time of permit issuance. All other fees, including but not limited to general facility charges, impact fees and system development charges must also be paid prior to or at the time of permit issuance, unless deferred under state law.

109.2 Master fee schedule. For buildings, structures, gas, mechanical, plumbing, signs, manufactured home installations, grading activities, energy code reviews and demolition or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the master fee schedule as established by resolution of the city council of the City of Shelton.

109.2.1 Washington State Building Code Council (WSBCC) surcharge. The WSBCC assesses a permit surcharge to each jurisdiction in the State of Washington (E2SHB 1622), which at the time of passage of this ordinance, is a flat rate fee of $6.50 for each RESIDENTIAL permit for approved plans or any other permit that is issued in accordance with the adopted building codes. For COMMERCIAL projects, the WSBCC fee is $25.00 for approved plans or any other permit that is issued in accordance with the adopted building codes. The WSBCC surcharge may be adjusted at any time and any required changes to this fee will be reflected in the master fee schedule as established by resolution of the city council of the City of Shelton. The City of Shelton forwards all fees collected in this regard to the WSBCC on a quarterly basis.

109.2.2 Plan review fee. A plan review fee shall be charged for permit plan review. The plan review fee shall be a separate fee from the permit fee specified in this section and is in addition to the permit fee. When submittal documents or plans are required under this code, the plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submittal of these documents or plans for review. The building official may have the option to charge deposit in lieu of the full plan review fee, if the full fee amount is not known at the time of document or plan submittal. The plan review deposit shall be applied toward the remaining plan review fee; the actual plan review fee shall be determined upon completion of the plan review and the remaining balance owing shall be paid at the time of permit issuance. When submittal documents are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review or when the project involves deferred submittal items, an additional plan review fee shall be charged. Plan review fees shall be set by resolution of the city council of the City of Shelton.

109.2.3 Energy code review fee. An energy code review fee may also be established by the city in order to meet the requirements of WAC 51-11C. If the city utilizes the services of outside professional consultant for this review, all invoices associated with the services of this outside professional consultant, including an administrative service charge shall be paid to the City as invoiced.

109.3 Building permit valuations. The applicant for a permit shall provide an estimated permit value at time of application. Permit valuations shall include total value for work, including materials and labor, for which the permit is being issued, such as electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing equipment, and permanent systems. If, in the opinion of the building official, the valuation is underestimated on the application the Building Official may utilize the August Building Valuation Data in the ICC Building Safety Journal. Final building permit valuations shall be set by the Building Official.

109.4 Work commencing before permit issuance. In addition to the required permit fees, the building official shall require that any person who commences any work on a building, structure, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a special investigation fee, which shall include the doubling of the required permit fees as established by resolution of the city council of the City of Shelton.

109.4.1 Contractor(s) commencing work prior to permit issuance or without first obtaining a City of Shelton business license endorsement issued by the Department of Licensing (without prior approval of the Building Official) shall be fined per the following schedule;

First Offense- $100 Fine.

Second Offense- $250 Fine and misdemeanor enforced by the City of Shelton Court.

Third offense- $1000 Fine and City of Shelton endorsement denied for 180 days.

109.5 Refunds. No permit fee refund will be allowed once any work has begun on a project. In order to request a refund of a permit fee, the request shall be addressed to the Building Official in writing and shall be received at the City of Shelton finance department within 180 days of the date of issuance of the permit; any refund request received after 180 days of the date of permit issuance shall automatically be denied. At the discretion of the Building Official, refund requests may be approved or denied based on the status of a project. All approved refunds shall be limited to 75% of the total permit fees paid. Refund requests shall only be considered for building, plumbing and mechanical permit fees. Refunds shall not include any plan review fees.

Section 113

Appeals

Replacing Section 113, Board of Appeals, with the following:

The hearing examiner shall hear appeals based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the code do not fully apply, or an equally good or better form of construction is proposed. The hearing examiner shall not have the authority to waive requirements of the adopted code. The appeal must be accompanied by an appeal fee, as established by the city, be filed with the City of Shelton community and economic development department within ten days of the decisions, and the written appeal shall contain the information in SMC Section 17.08.028.

(Ord. 2004-0523 § 2, 2023; Ord. 1988-0522 § 1, 2022)